𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐋 𝐅𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐃

03

Song:
can't stop the feeling- justin timberlake
slowed + reverb

LEENA

It's been about a week. It's such a shame that it went by so fast. I really don't want to go to school. You know what? I should've asked dad to delay it but it's too late now.

I groan as I hesitantly get out of bed.

As I'm walking to the bathroom one of my toes hit the side of the bed frame.

"Shit," I mutter as I try my best not to scream from the top of my lungs at the pain.

This stupid bed frame. All I wanted was to go and brush my teeth but it just had to get in the way. I repeatedly hit it in anger until I eventually get tired and continue on my walk to the bathroom.

While I'm brushing my teeth, I look at my reflection in the mirror. Gosh, I look like a hot mess. My hair is going in different directions and there's crust at the side and corner of my eyes. If looks could kill I would have caused mass extinction. I quickly rub the crust off as I wash my face.

I don't have to worry about showering since I showered last night. Showering at night just makes more sense to me. 

I throw on some jeans and an off-white drawstring hoodie. I think I did pretty well with my outfit of the day. I clearly put in the effort to look this good.

As I make my way downstairs and into the kitchen, I spot a sticky note on the fridge. I pull it off and examine the message.

I won't be home until eight tonight. There's cereal and leftovers in the fridge if you're hungry.

I sigh as I grab a bowl and a box of cereal.

Why do I feel so nervous? There's this feeling at the pit of my stomach. I've been trying to ignore it all morning but it's no use.

After I wash my bowl and grab my keys, I head out. It's sunny today, which is drastically different from the rain that this town has been experiencing for the past week.

I hop into my car and turn on the radio. The drive to school isn't too long. It's about ten minutes. I'm definitely in no rush. Lilith is supposed to show me around today so that makes me feel a little bit better about everything.

Once I find a parking space, I get out of my car and head to the building. Lilith texted me telling me that she'd meet me at the front of the school.

I spot Lilith talking with some guy and I approach her.

"Hey Leena!" She hugs me before she introduces me to the guy she was chatting with.

"This is Mitch. Mitch, this is Leena. It's her first day here."

I give him a small wave and he returns it. "It's nice to meet you. Listen, I gotta go but I'll catch you later?" I watch as he stares at Lilith, waiting for her to answer.

I take the time to examine his appearance.

With brunette hair, hazel eyes, and soft pink lips, he looks like a guy you'd see on vacation just to never cross paths with them ever again.

"Yeah, of course." She fiddles with her cardigan, staring at him as he nods to us both before walking off. I notice her cheeks redden slightly but I decide not to pay any mind to it.

"Who was that?"

"Oh, he's a friend of mine. We've been friends since fifth grade. Come on, let me show you the inside." She leads me into the building and I follow her in.

I hope I won't forget where everything is. My memory is just as good as a ninety year old woman.

After walking around for a while, I'm glad to say I'm finally done with the tour. My feet hurt and it's not helping that she's been talking my ear off the entire time.

"Okay, that's about it!" Her walking comes to a halt.

"I'll see you at lunch, then?" I don't know why I asked, but apart of me didn't want to sit alone. Not in an unfamiliar environment where I'm completely vulnerable to those around me.

"Yeah of course! I hope your first day goes well." She gives me another hug before walking off. A hint of a smile creeps up onto my face and I turn to walk towards my first class.

***

"Can I sit here?"

A girl with wavy red hair and striking green eyes stands beside my desk, her gaze fixed on me as I lift my head from my notebook.

To say that she was pretty would be the understatement of the year.

"Sure, why not." I focus my attention back onto my notes. She thanks me before plopping down onto the seat next to mine.

"Are you new here? I've never seen you here before, not to be rude or anything."

"Yeah, today's my first day." I continue note taking after responding, scribbling down whatever I can manage to write before the teacher goes on.

"Have you ran into any assholes yet?"

"No, why?" I chuckle as she playfully rolls her eyes.

"This school is filled with them," she sighs, leaning back in her seat to stretch before turning to face me.

"Ladies if you're going to gossip, please quiet down over there." The teacher turns from the board to face us.

I stare at her before we both chuckle. It takes a couple of seconds before I'm able to calm down.

"I'm Reyna," she tells me as she finally calms down.

"I'm Leena."

"I like you. Let's be friends." She smiles and pats my shoulder before turning back to her desk.

After class is over, we head over to the cafeteria for lunch. The room's already jam packed with students moving in and out of the room. We begin to make our way through the crowded area after grabbing our food.

"You sure you want to eat in here? It's too loud." Reyna's face cringes from the noises within the cafeteria.

"No it's okay. I told someone I was going to meet them here anyway." I look around the cafeteria in search of Lilith.

I spot her sitting with Mitch at one of the tables. Reyna trails behind, coming to a stop beside me as I approach the two.

"Hey Lilith," I greet her. Before I get the chance to introduce Reyna, Lilith speaks.

"Oh hey Leena, hey Rey." She perks up.

"Wait, you two know each other?" I stare at the two of them in surprise.

"Yeah she's my sister," Reyna says after taking a seat at the table. I take a seat right after her.

"Really?" I ask, looking between the two for any similarities but finding none.

"No," Lilith says almost immediately. "Don't listen to her. She likes to pretend we're siblings."

The redhead gasps dramatically and brings her hand up to cover her heart, "How dare you! Are you ashamed of being my sister?"

Lilith looks at her as if she's crazy. "Is everything okay at home Rey?" She stares at her friend in concern. I watch the exchange, a look of amusement taking over my features.

"Hey Leena," Mitch greets me, ignoring the two as they bicker. I wave to him before bringing a fry to my mouth.

Lunch goes by quickly and I stretch before standing up from the table, taking my empty tray with me and heading towards the trash can.

Little did I know what was coming for me in matter of seconds.